Storms are rolling in…
And it is dark at 4 o’clock. I posted yesterday morning but I never did come back. I apologize to all those breathless to read more about my long, boring, days of summer until school starts again…it’s a me thing.
I did complete Day 22 and Day 23. That would be some chest and back–so misleading–when it’s just endless push-ups and pull-ups and ab exercises–and Plyo, the jump stuff. I managed to half-ass my way thru that too today. I have a theory on my lack of energy and it’s not pretty. Reading the books that come with the program (P90X–got it in there for ya’ Amanda) They talk about the diet, eating healthy, I get that. They also talk about eating enough. Yes, eating more than you want to because you are burning the cals and you need the food to help you make it thru the workouts. I thought that was a load of crap. I have plenty of food stored in me that I should be able to go for many more days without any extra. But I might be wrong. Hardheaded. It’s all written. I read it. Didn’t believe it.
Here’s the unpretty part: (Turn away if you are squeamish, it’s about to get too personal) This is my first period, menstrual cycle, whatever you want to call it, while doing this program, and since I am a bit older than I’d like to be, things can be fast, slow, heavy, light, if you get my drift, AND I was trying to burn up the cals with some double workouts (got one tonight) and some leaner eating–by which I mean NONE. No food. Just some fruit and a chicken breast with some steamed beans…like literally, I cut my cals by three-fourths. Well, lo and behold, I can’t get up and once I do, I can’t do the exercises. I can’t get the same intensity because I have no energy. Like none. It’s strange. No food in, lots of draining body fluids (sweat and other things, sorry) and I am dogging it. My booty is not lifting, as much as sagging, around the living room trying to keep up with the gang on the TV.
But I think I got it now. I’ll increase the food or at least go back to my normal diet. Normal, healthy, low-fat, no-dairy, diet, I mean. Of course.
I’m excited though because I weighed yesterday too. I am trying to do it about every two weeks. Nothing drastic. Slow and steady. It’s good. I am down 5.5 lbs in 27 days. It is not noticeable on me whatsoever. It’s just the way I’m shaped I guess. And I’m not starving myself or starving at all. My appetite is less lately. Although that could also be because it’s 90+ degrees every day now and that kills any urge to eat or move or breathe. But I don’t care anyway because it’s for the long haul and I don’t have alot of years left to be getting down to little old lady size. Gotta do it now.
Last night we did dinner with the family. Pizza–so good. Tried to eat the smallest, crustiest pieces I could, as slow as I could. I even had dessert. Key Lime pie. Not my fav but it was ok.
Here is a fun fact for you: One eighth of that pie had 450 calories. I wasn’t cutting so I tried to get a small piece, but isn’t that alot?? I thought so. Sometimes all that labeling is evil.
So hopefully I will go to the gym again tonight and run my miles…do I even dare try the 55 mins.? I don’t know. I’m scared thinking about it. Have to do something as my sister Amanda and my friend Beth are trying to kill me in the next two days. Garage sale tomorrow, nice and early, all day and an hour away…I have to get up sooooo early and I don’t even get any of the money!
Then Friday is my cardio-fitness-trainer-tag-a-long workout with Beth. Again with the early. 7 am. People are crazy. Who can exercise that early? I’m really not an early morning kind of girl for doing stuff. Any stuff. I like to lay and drink coffee until my eyes open better. I am already overly worried about my school schedule and I still have three weeks! I’ll be getting up early for sure, but it’s mostly moving the kids around and putting on clothes. Then driving in the car. The nursing part is not nearly as hard as balancing on half a ball for a minute holding dumbbells and jumping 50 times. Or sitting at a garage sale in the sweltering sun bargaining down my sissy’s belongings, praying for death or at least a big rainstorm. (Just kidding…I’m sure it will be fine. And fun!)
Anyway…I’ll wrap it up for today. It’s longer than I thought, as always. I can’t even shut up typing! And the sky has cleared. I’m going to go back outside and finish sitting in my chair, looking at the backyard. We have hummingbirds!
There’s some pictures around because I took them and it looks better than just all words. I may be back. (She says mysteriously) Later.
Good Morning! Awake!
And updating the last post because I know you were wondering all night if I did go run at the gym with the BF. Take a deep breath, rest easy, and start the day, I DID drag my sorry butt out and over!
It was crowded but cool (when I go earlier in the day it’s kind of dead and warmer), and I was lucky to get a treadmill near the BF’s stair machine, but I punched in my info and hopped on for 31 minutes. AND I ran at a faster rate to try and “push myself”. I protest other people telling me what to do, but I have to admit I was struggling and I guess that’s what it’s all about.
I also managed to cut the 2.5 mile distance down by 5 minutes. So, I guess I can improve my time on the short distance or bump up the time to 55 minutes and squeeze in the 5 miles. Either way I have about a month to run faster. Any thoughts??
Also, I totally forgot, OMG! Haha. I am using the 10 pound hand weights now, up from the 8 lbs! If you are not impressed by my arm strength (to lift individual weights not body weight) then I encourage you to go do a round of arms and see where you are at! The girl in the P90X uses 12 lbs so I’m feeling pretty strong. Anyway, if I’ve gained anything, it’s the coolness of having workout equipment laying all around the house, and hopefully, soon, I will have the coolness of losing the lunch lady flaps, and my kids will stop jiggling the back of my arms and laughing!
Day 22 coming up shortly…dinner with relatives later tonight so I have to extra “BRING IT” even though I am only going to eat a cracker pack and some tea. Maybe dessert….winkity wink.
Wherever you are, get up, press play and enjoy the day….I’ll be back later!
So, where was I??
Let me go back to my P90X notebook (yes, I have a separate notebook just for the X–don’t laugh, you really need one or you can’t gauge the process) last time I was here was….Day 10? Well, I guess I’m behind. Here it is already Day 21. I’ve done the sequence three times now and it’s a tiny bit easier. I say that with emphasis on the tiny bit. Let me re-cap, but quickly:
Day 10, I finished my arms and abs and went running. I discovered a better way to train. Use the Random setting on the treadmill. It’s got inclines and all that. I started with a level 10 of 20 just because I didn’t know where to go. Did 30 minutes. Started slow. Like, walk/jog slow and worked up to actual running. I increased speed every few minutes. The BF says I don’t work hard enough and that may be true. I like the feeling of running not the feeling of winning. I only have to do five miles in less than 55 minutes. That’s my goal. Very achievable at the slow ass rate I run on the treadmill. So that’s that. I highly recommend some extra cardio with the P90X, especially if you have the time and if you are like me and not eating perfect. Plus it makes you feel darn good and so strong.
Anyhoo…I have to hurry because I told the BF I would run with him today at the gym and I really don’t want to…I really brought it today to make up for me NOT bringing it the last three days. Blah. Here’s the fast version:
Day 11 thru 20: I ran thru the schedule just as written. I think I missed a day or two, but nothing drastic. Still hurting. Still can’t do all the Abs to save my life, but I can do all 25 of the first exercise. Ten more to go at the same rate. I am using my pull up bar and it’s good. The day I can do unassisted (without the chair) is going to be a highlight. Push ups are moving along. Still on my knees…uh huh…but working toward on my toes. You people are sick.
The best news is that I actually lost 2.2 pounds and did not alter the diet super dramatically. I will say that I am eating far less than I was and I try to make the good choices but I am not there yet. I feel better in my skin even though the jeans still fit the same.
This week, my kids are gone again. 😦 They get another vacation with their dad which I am happy for, but sad because summer is flying by and we have to start the grind, and I love having them around me all the time. But I am taking this week to clean up my diet. It’s easiest when there is only you to worry about.
Day 21. This is today. Felt really out of it because I skipped Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Lazy/Fatigued (thanks monthly cycle—it hits me harder some months than others, damn aging), Birthday Party (happy b-day to my double nieces born on the same day, Elexa and Jesse, 8 and 15), Pierogi Fest (the Polack in me must go eat bad foods and drink the hootch). So after getting up to move the car for the BF and assessing the monthly situation…I went right back to bed. And after sleeping my once a year, 12 hour nap, I was ready to get up for good.
I picked Plyometrics as my choice workout. It gives me the best feeling of working and the most fun and activities. Then I added in my own push-up/ab/arm exercises to finish the burn and punch out that last little bit of strength I had. The sweat is unbelievable and disgusting. I like to keep the air off for that extra bonus “heat” effect. Glistening. Anyway it’s not nearly as hot as it was outside so it’s saving money too.
Now it’s about 6:30 pm Chicago time, and I am dreading the phone call to meet at the gym. I am trying to clean out my body today. Nothing bad in. Water (and coffee–I’m not a superhero) and I ate blueberries and a banana. One day of “sort-of-fasting” is not going to kill me.
For tomorrow, Day 22, I am adding in one more week of Phase 1. I feel I need an extra boost with these exercises and a nice clean lead in to the rest phase and the next weeks to come.
I’m going for alot this week. Exercise, complete catch up on this site, complete school reading before the new stuff comes, an I-Tunes/I-pod updated player and lists, money–in and out, the never ending always waiting laundry and housecleaning. Yuck to the yuck. I’m even gonna go workout special with my friend Beth on Friday—so I really got to work it this week. And I’m gonna help my sissy with her garage sale for one day—I’d love to help all three, but…no I wouldn’t! Sorry Amanda!
Follow me here if you care, and give me your comments and advice and any other thing that crosses your mind. I know I can ramble with the best of them.
Just because I love it, I’m putting pictures of the Pierogi Queen and her Babushka Brigade around all these words. Just a bunch of Polacks having fun!
P90X…just rolling along…
I still can’t get the daily thing going yet to post but….
Day4…Yoga X Killer. Never did yoga before, probably not the best one to start with, but I brought it.
Day5…Legs, Back, Ab Ripper Oh yes, no mercy.
Day 6…Kenpo X Whatever…I was doing what they were doing…only less.
Day 7…X Stretch…THIS is the yoga other people are doing.
WEEK 2!!! I did not quit. I hit play everyday! But there is no glory for one week.
Day 8…Chest, Back, Ab Ripper again….but this time I am prepared. I have a pull-up bar for the door and push up bars for the floor. I can do ZERO pull-ups using only my arms. I can do about five with the “chair” help. Push ups…are getting up to like 10 at a time now (on my knees…but Tony says that’s cool…get to 25 on the knees and move it to the toes)
Day 9…Today. Plyometrics. You have never seen someone sweat this much in their living room. I have never sweat this much for ANYTHING, and I gave birth, twice!
Tomorrow is Day 10. I won’t quit now. Plus it’s fun shoulders and arms (and abs)…get to use my stuff! I can’t say that I lost weight…eating as healthy as my brain lets me…but I do feel different. My body seems to be shifting and crying. I have been sore since the first day. I am still sore. This seems to be the norm for all. Muscle Confusion. My muscles are definitely confused. They are wondering why the hell they are not sitting on the couch eating ice cream anymore instead of trying to be torn out of my body on a daily basis now.
So, this is just a quick update to move my site along and annoy my sister!
I am dedicating all my P90X workouts and all the subsequent results to her! I love you Amanda and I intend to talk you to death about this until we die! Now get off the computer chair and go lift something! Bring It!!
And check the pics at the top of the page…It’s my new “gear”.
Oh one more thing…as if all the P90X talk isn’t enough…I got my rotation for Fall classes and the rest is coming next week. I get to buy all my new books and all the rest of my last year of school stuff!! I get to talk about TWO things. At once!! “Boring my family and friends on two levels now!!” (Thanks Mom, that quote was from you. You won’t think it’s so boring though when I use all my skills to LIFT you up to change the diap-py and administer those meds you’re gonna need! ) Hahahaha XXXX
Day 3 P90X Just a quick note…
I swear I am in muscle hell. Every single one in my body hurts. I WISH I had started these discs earlier. The BEST by far, of any I have ever done and I have done ALOT. Trust that I could not complete any of the three workouts so far, but I am trying. The Ab Ripper is seriously not even funny as a workout. When I complete this series I know that I will have accomplished something here. And the nice thing is that it is going to take a really long time to get all the exercises, with all the reps, in the time allotted. But in case you didn’t get me before, I LOVE this workout.
And here’s something that I did not expect: Every workout person/tape/company says you have to do the workout AND eat right for it to work…blah blah blah we all know but we never do it do we? We keep eating crap and tell ourselves we will just work out harder next time. Well let me tell you, do this program for 2 days. That’s it. Do the Chest/Shoulder/Abs…that’s good. Then go eat lunch, dinner whatever.
Day 2, do the Plyometrics. Basically Jump/Squat/Lunge Hell for an hour. Any muscle that did not hurt from the first day will now be screaming in pain today. Then I dare you to eat some junky food. I love fast, junky food because I don’t like to prepare and cook stuff. But I swear on all that I care about I DID NOT want to eat anything that might be “unclean”. I’m not sure what is going on with these discs. Maybe some kind of subliminal messaging while you’re slowly dying of your own accord and on purpose.
Now I am not going to be all holy here and say that I am not eating and drinking this weekend. I picked Fourth of July, party people, to start this madness, but I WILL be thinking twice about every bit of food I do eat, and probably eating a little less and drinking slow with lots of ice. This workout requires alot of work and effort and it seriously feels wrong to sabotage it with nasty food. The food doesn’t even taste as good. (I tried. I ate about half)
I know I can go on and on but it really is amazing to me that some simple dvd’s can change my entire outlook like nothing before. Maybe it’s just the right time for me. If you try it, please please, let me know! I would love to hear from other people out there doing it to. I cannot even imagine where I will be in 10 days and 20 days and then 90…
For me, I am adding in some running on the “weight” days to supplement my cardio because I still have a five mile to run on Labor Day, but otherwise the workout as it stands would prob be enough. I will be streamlining my food (after tomorrow) and the whole family is going to have to get on board or they will be hungry! Kids are already in a semi-program of my doing but it’s really not enough…won’t they be sorry when they get back! They have no idea trolling around out there in the sun…
So that’s it for now, Day 3 complete. More weights and arms and abs…which was comical because I could barely raise my body off the floor…the abs are already on holiday. I have to go change and hit the stores. I have buns to buy for the bbq (say that five times fast) and some pasta salad to throw together to impress the fam with. But I’ll be back tomorrow—just cause it’s a holiday doesn’t mean I can skip the workout, not this early in the game.
And please drop me a line if you are as excited as I am. Let me know how and why and what you are doing! XOXOXO
And that’s my first post after all this time??
Dead flies and a new swatter?? Yes. That is what inspired me to get off my lazy bum and start this up again.
Please excuse the process for a little while and the pictures I will be posting. I am limited, at the moment, to what I take with my phone and pull from facebook. We had a computer malfunction over here and some things were lost. Like my entire I-Tunes/music library…dramatic pause…
The computer I am working on has been slow anyway, so it needed a re-boot or re-start from scratch or whatever is done to fix these kinds of things. All our data and files and folders and pics and music were on my old hard drive (an ancient, heavy thing that looked like a book). After my last I-Tune purchase and Ipod uploads for all, I smartly backed everything up as I have been doing, but have not done for over a year. That drive was grinding away burning those discs, making all kinds of noise. And wouldn’t you know it? Next time we tried to use it…no good. Dead in the water. Just nothing. No recognition from the computer. In fact, it would shut the computer down and threaten to leave the premises if we didn’t stop trying to make it work. Luckily, I had mentioned this to the BF while we were out and about and we picked up a brand new, credit card hard drive that all the pics and folders got moved to from the computer, but no luck transferring from the old hard drive. Whatever data is there is destined to stay there now. Long story short: The new drive has what could be salvaged off the laptop, the drive was wiped clean and rebooted and the only thing we have on the desktop now is Internet, an empty documents folder and an empty pictures folder.
It’s nice and clean and I like it. But I am a bit worried for my music. It’s technically not gone. (Yet) I have 48 backup discs that are the light. I have 30,000 songs, movies and tv and video and pictures just sitting now. I have to re-install I-Tunes, hook up the new drive, point it in the right direction and start dropping dvd’s, and hope hope hope that all my stuff is there. If not, that’s the breaks right? I may start next week. I’m afraid of the unknown here.
I still have my Ipod, but when it rains it pours and my songs are starting to skip on the playlists. I have had unbelievable good luck with every Ipod purchase I have ever made (alot) and I have the big one. It has gone everywhere with me, everyday, work, school, exercise, rain, cold, heat, car, planes, trains…where I go it goes…for 3 + years, so I’m a little sentimental and I can’t really complain ’cause I’ve heard stories of people that have no luck with them. But, it is what it will be and this seems to be turning into some kind of love letter to an Ipod.I just wanted to explain the picture situation…so if you got all that…there ya go!
Alright, the kids are gone. Kentucky bound. Well, they’re actually already there. They’ve been there for 12 hours now and they have sent me pics. I will be posting those at the top of the page!
That means mommy gets to play for the days now…I am smoothed and lubed and ready to go. That’s not exactly as bad as it sounds…apparently I have scratchy old lady skin (according to the children), soon to be replaced by papery old lady skin if I don’t do something about it NOW. My sissy, their aunty has smooth, soft, supple skin that I FAIL to achieve on any level. Whatever! So, I have taken some personal time today and removed hair and added lotion. (Exercise totally helps when you want to feel good about your body. Strong, clean and lean. What does she mean by that??)
Day 1 of the new skin!
Day 2 of P90X…oh yeah! I am bringing it! But, that’s a whole other post….
just shy of pretty 